Estimation of genetic divergence for yield and quality traits in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D2 technique was studied for 16 growth, yield and quality traits in 35 tomato genotypes collected from different parts of the country. The analysis of variance for dispersion revealed the presence of significant variability among the genotypes for all the characters under study. From the D2- statistics and canonical analysis, the genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters irrespective of geographical diversity, indicating no parallelism between geographic and genetic diversity. Cluster I topped in having maximum of 20 genotypes followed by cluster 11(11), cluster III (2), while cluster IV and V were monotypic. The maxim urn intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster 1(743.14) comprising 20 genotypes followed by clusters II and Ill which were identified genetically divergent whereas clusters IV and V exhibited minimum intra-cluster values indicated limited genetic divergence. The maximum inter-cluster distance was noticed between cluster III and V (19316.55) followed by cluster III and IV (13336.55), cluster II and V (10659.36), cluster I and III (701 3.87) and cluster II and IV (6396.41). Among characters studied, fruit yield plant-1, number of fruits plant, plant height and fruit weight, fruit size and number of primary branches plant-1 contributed maximum to divergence and have a major role in improvement of fruit yield in tomato. Crossing between genotypes belonging to cluster III and V as well as cluster Ill and IV, and cluster II and V are expected to give maximum heterosis.